Device for automatically positioning the windings formed by a flexible elongated member stored in an annular basket rotatable about a vertical axis

ABSTRACT

Device for automatically positioning the windings of a flexible elongated element in a storage annular basket comprising means for drawing said flexible element and forming a loop portion thereof free of tensile stress, means for guiding the introduction of said flexible element into said basket, means for driving said basket in rotation, means for controlling the rotation of said basket in response to the feeding rate of the flexible element thereto and means for controlling, in response to the rotation of said basket, said guiding means and the length of said loop.

United States Patent 1 Thiery et al.

[451 Sept. 24, 1974 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING THE WINDINGS FORMED BY A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED MEMBER STORED IN AN ANNULAR BASKET ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS [75] Inventors: Jean Thiery, Le Pecq; Remi Reynard, Montessori; Yves Willm, Suresnes, all of France [73] Assignee: Institut Francais dn Petrole, des

Carburants et Lubrifiants, Rueil-Malmaison, France [22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 318,614

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 24, 1971 France 71.46684 [52] U.S. Cl. 242/83 [51] Int. Cl. B2lc 47/00 [58] Field of Search 242/54 R, 79, 82, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,929,577 3/1960 Henning 242/83 2,936,509 5/!960 Martin 242/83 X 3,042,336 7/I962 Krafft 3,l I 1,286 11/1963 Lorenz 242/83 Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig & Antonelli [5 7 ABSTRACT Device for automatically positioning the windings of a flexible elongated element in a storage annular basket comprising means for drawing said flexible element and forming a loop portion thereof free of tensile stress, means for guiding the introduction of said flexible element into said basket, means for driving said basket in rotation, means for controlling the rotation of said basket in response to the feeding rate of the flexible element thereto and means for controlling, in response to the rotation of said basket, said guiding means and the length of said loop.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PMENIED W- 1974 SHEET 2 OF 3 PAIENIEUSEPZMQM SHEET 3 0F 3 l V I 1 ,16 i

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING THE WINDINGS FORMED BY A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED MEMBER STORED IN AN ANNULAR BASKET ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS The present invention relates to a device for automatically positioning the windings or convolutions formed by an elongated member stored in an annular basket rotatable about a vertical axis.

In the following, reference will more particularly be made, by way of non-limitative example only, to the storage of a flexible drill pipe in a basket of annular shape, rotatable about its vertical axis.

At the present time the drilling methods using as a drill stem a flexible pipe, at the lower end of which is suspended a bottom motor driving in rotation a drill bit, give rise to a great interest justified by the advantages resulting from the utilization of these methods.

The flexible drill pipe must be stored, in devices which have been specially designed, for example in order to facilitate the transportation of this pipe, but also during the drilling operations, particularly when the drill pipe is raised from the drilled bore.

It has been previously contemplated to make use of storing drums with horizontal winches whereon are wound the flexible drill pipes.

This solution has been proved to be convenient for conveying the different parts constituting the drill pipe. However, in the course of the drilling operations, during the raising of the drill pipe, generally of great length, it is necessary to dispose of storage drums or winches having a great storage capacity, i.e., drums of great size, which are bulky, difficult to put in operation and to displace from one drilling place to another.

On the drilling place it is preferable to make use of storage baskets of annular shape, rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, such storage baskets being more convenient than the storage devices with a horizontal axis.

The problem to be solved is then to correctly position the flexible pipe in these storage baskets, to prevent the windings formed by the pipe to overlap or slide on one another, which would lead to local deteriorations as a result of wear of the flexible pipe and would decrease the storage capacity of these baskets.

To this purpose there has already been proposed a basket with positioning of the windings formed by a flexible elongated member stored in this rotatable basket of vertical axis and comprising a plurality of vertical partitions placed concentrically with respect to one another, and defining annular spaces slightly broader than the greater size of the cross-section of the stored flexible elongated member. The latter is laid into these annular spaces, forming windings which are held in place by the partitions, without any possibility of relative sliding of these windings.

This device gives excellent results, but such storage baskets appear as too bulky and too heavy when destined to equip floating installations, particularly floating drilling installations.

The main object of the present invention is accordingly to avoid or at least reduce these drawbacks by providing a device for automatically positioning the windings formed by a flexible elongated element stored in a rotary storage basket of vertical axis.

The automatic device according to the invention permits positioning the convolutions formed by a flexible elongated member stored in a basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis through driving means, this basket defining an annular space comprising a bottom and open at its upper part, so as to permit the introduction of the flexible elongated member thereinto, this elongated member being driven by displacing means.

In the device according to the invention the part of the elongated member located between said displacing means and said storing means, forms at least one fraction of a free loop which is not subjected to any tensile stress and this device comprises in combination means drawing said part of the elongated member constituting said fraction of a loop, means guiding the elongated member during its introduction into said storage basket, said guiding means being controlled by the rotation of the storage basket and means controlling, on the one hand, the rotation of the storage basket as a function of the length of the elongated member running at the outlet of said displacing means and controlling, on the other hand, the length of the elongated member which runs at the outlet of said drawing means, as a function of the rotation of said storage basket.

The advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description of a non limitative embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a drilling installation using the device of the invention for the storage of the flexible pipe constituting the drill pipe, in a storage basket of annular shape, rotatably mounted about a vertical axis,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the working of a device according to the invention, and

FIG. 3 illustrates as a block-diagram the operation means of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a drilling rig including the device according to the invention for storing the flexible pipe which constitutes the drill pipe in a storage basket of annular shape rotatably mounted about a vertical axis.

The rig comprises a derrick I placed above the drilled well 2. Reference numeral 3 designates devices for drawing the drill pipe which is flexible and, at the top of the derrick 1 passes over a direction reversing means, illustrated here as a pulley integral with the mast 1. The drawing devices which form no part of this invention need not be described here in detail. They may be constituted by endless chain traction devices or by any other suitable pulling means.

In the vicinity of the derrick there is placed an annular basket 6 for storing the flexible drill pipe 4, this basket being rotatably mounted about its vertical axis. The flexible pipe 4 can penetrate this basket at the upper part thereof.

The storage basket 6 is formed of an'inner cylindrical vertical frame 7 and an outer cylindrical frame concentric to the inner frame 7. The radial distance between the two frames is greater than the diameter of the flexible pipe and the radius of the inner frame is at least equal to the minimum radius of curvature of the flexible pipe. The two frames 7 and 8 define between each other an annular space closed by a base plate at its lower end.

The above-described storage basket is driven in rotation by one or more motors not shown in FIG. 1, these motors being, for example of the hydraulic or electric type.

The storage basket is also provided with a rotary hydraulic sealing gasket, not shown, ensuring the continuous supply of the flexible pipe with hydraulic fluid.

In order to obtain a correct positioning of the windings formed by the flexible pipe 4, there is provided between the direction reversing means 5 located at the top of the derrick 1 and the storage basket 6, a carriage 9 moveable along a rectilinear rail 10 parallel to a direction radial to the annular storage basket 6.

Means, which may be of any known type, synchronize the displacement of the carriage with the rotation of the storage basket 6.

In this embodiment, the carriage 9 is provided with a direction reversing means or pulley means 11 on which the pipe 4 passes. The flexible pipe length between the direction reversing means 5 and 11 is chosen greater than the distance between these two means, so as to form a free loop portion 4a the utility of which will be apparent from the following description.

After having passed on the direction reversing means 11, the pipe is displaced by a drawing device, provided for example on the carriage 9 and diagrammatically illustrated at 12, this drawing device being actuated by a hydraulic or an electric motor.

At the outlet of the drawing device 12, the portion'4b of the flexible pipe 4 takes the shape of a catenary curve before being laid into the storage basket 6.

Optionally, a guiding member 13 limits the casual deformations of the portion 4b of the flexible pipe, resulting mainly from the residual torsional stresses due to the intrinsic stiffness of the flexible pipe or from the presence of rigid coupling members between two successive portions ofthe flexible pipe.

The portions 4a and 4b of the flexible pipe are in the same single plane perpendicular to the guiding rail 10.

The movements of the above-described different displaceable elements are controlled as indicated in the following.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the device. The same reference numerals have been used to designate the elements already shown in FIG. 1.

A detector 14 is associated with the pulley 5. This detector, which may be of any known type, generates'a signal representative of the length of the flexible pipe 4 which runs on the pulley 5, i.e., which runs out of the traction means, not shown in this drawing.

The generated signal is transmitted through a line 15 to means 16 for automatic control which will be described hereinunder and which is provided for the synchronization of all the elements forming the whole device.

The drawing device 12, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, is actuated by a hydraulic motor 37, this motor being supplied with hydraulic fluid through a pump whose flow rate is controlled by an electro-valve 17 itself remotely controlled by the control means 16 through line 18.

A detecting member 19, associated with the drawing device 12, generates a signal representative of the length of flexible pipe passing through this drawing device, this signal being transmitted to the control means 16 through line 20.

A detection member 21, generates a signal representative of the displacement of the carriage 9 along the slideway or rail 10, this signal being transmitted to the control means 16 through a line 22. This signal is a function of the winding radius of the flexible pipe 4 into the annular storage basket 6.

This storage basket is driven in rotation by driving means diagrammatically indicated at 23 and which comprises, for example, one or more electro-valves 24 remotely controlled by the control means 16, through line 25.

A detecting element 26 is associated with the storage basket 6 and generates a signal which is a function of the rotation of the storage basket 6, this signal being transmitted to the control means 16 through the line 27.

The operation of the device is explained with reference to FIG. 3 which diagrammatically illustrates the control means 16.

The following description shows the working of the device according to the operation performed in drilling conditions, i.e.:

reeling the flexible drill pipe in the storagebasket as this pipe is raised, unreeling the flexible pipe as the drilling progresses,

special operating conditions of the device.

I. Reeling the drill pipe in the storage basket as this pipe is raised. I

The problems to be solved consist in rotating the storage basket 6 by an angle corresponding to the lengthof flexible pipe running on the direction reversing means 5 and to provide for the formation and positioning of the pipe windings in the storage basket.

In order that the pipe length into the storage basket be equal to the length of the pipe running on the direction reversing device 5, the rotation of the basket is controlled as a function'of this pipe length, which is measured by the detecting device 14..

The detecting device 26 (FIG. 3) delivers a signal representative of the angle of rotation of the storage basket 6. This signal is transmitted through line 27 to a first input terminal of a correcting circuit 28 which receives on a second input terminal, through line 22, the signal delivered by the detector 21, this signal being representative of the position of the carriage 9 on the rail 10, i.e., representative of the radius of the pipe winding which is being formed. The correcting circuit 28 delivers on its output terminal a signalwhich represents the length of the pipe winding laid into the storage basket, this signal being transmitted through a line 29 to an input terminal of a comparingcircuit 30.

- In a first position'M (illustrated in FIG. 3) a switch I with two positions (M and F)'transmits to a second input terminal of the comprising circuit 30 the signal emanating from the detector 14, this signal being, as hereinunder indicated, representative of the flexible pipe length running on the direction reversing device 5.

The circuit 30 elaborates a resulting signal representative of the result of the comparison of the signals applied to its input terminals, this resulting signal, transmitted through line 25, actuating the electro-valve 24 which controls the operation of the motor 23 (FIG. 2) driving in rotation the storage basket 6. The rotation of this basket is thus controlled as a function of the flexible pipe length running on the direction reversing device 5.

In practice, since the inertia of the storage basket 6 is high, the formation and positioning of the pipe convolutions in the storage basket 6 might be not entirely satisfactory.

In order to obviate the drawback, the portion 4b of the pipe must be of constant length and shape, i.e., the length of the convolution laid into the storage basket 6 must be absolutely equal to the length of the pipe passing through the drawing device 12. This is achieved by controlling the driving means 37 of the drawing device 12 as a function of the rotation of the storage basket 6.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the signal delivered by the circuit 28 is transmitted through line 31 and the switch II with two positions M and F (actuated in synchronium with the switch I) to a first input terminal of a comparing circuit 32 which receives, through line 20, on a second input terminal, the signal generated by the detector 19, this signal being representative of the length of the pipe running in the drawing device 12. The comparing circuit 32 generates on its output terminal a signal resulting from the comparison of the signals which are applied to its input terminals, this signal being applied, through line 18, to the electro-valve 17 which controls the operation of the engine 37 (FIG. 2) driving the drawing device 12. There is thus obtained a regulation of the driving movement of the drawing device 12 which has a small inertia as compared to that of the rotatable storage basket.

The possible lack of precision in the control, due to the high inertia of the storage basket 6 is fully balanced by modifications of the length of the loop 4a formed by the flexible pipe between the direction reversing device 5 and the drawing device 12.

ll. Unreeling the flexible pipe during the drilling operatrons When reversing the operative conditions of the driving means, for example through reversing the direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid in the driving means 37 and 23, the operation of the device is similar to that already described when the drilling speed is of the same order of magnitude as the speed at which the drill pipe is raised from the well.

In practice such cases are rather rare, the drilling speed being generally much smaller than the speed at which the drill pipe is raised. As a border-line case a stable operative condition of the device might not be possible at a low drilling speed, due to the limited resolution power of the detectors and to the inertia of the hydraulic systems and of the displaced masses.

In order to obviate these drawbacks, the operator places the switches I and II in their F position. The detector 14 is then no longer connected to the comparing circuit 30 whose second input terminal is connected through switch I, line 33 and a switch C with three positions (T, A and P), placed in its A position, to a generator G adapted to deliver signals identical to those generated by detector 14.

The switch II being also in its F position, the circuit 28 is connected to the comparing circuit 32 through line 34 and a switch C having three positions (T, A and P), which is actuated simultaneously with the switch C and is placed in its position A.

During the drilling operation at low speed, the detector 14 being no longer connected to the comparing circuit 30 and the generator G delivering no pulse, the drilling proceeds without rotation of the storage basket and the flexible pipe is not driven by the drawing device. The length of the loop 4a decreases. When this length reaches a predetermined minimum value shown in dashed line in FIG. 2, a device (not shown), which may be of any known type (constituted, for example, by an electric contact which is pressed by the loop 4a) actuates the generator G.

The device according to the invention operates as hereinabove indicated, under the action of the signals of generator G which simulates the running of the pipe on the direction reversing device 5.

It results therefrom an increase in the length of the loop 4a up to a maximum value, corresponding to the position shown in dotted line in FIG. 2. When the loop 4a reaches this last position, a device (not shown) such as, for example, another electrical contact, interrupts the operation of generator G. The drilling proceeds, producing a decrease in the length of the loop 4a.

During the two above-described stages, the displacement of the carriage 9 is, as already pointed out, dependent on the rotation of the storage basket 6 through any known device, the adjustement of the movement of the carriage 9 being predetermined as a function of the cross-sectional diameter of the flexible pipe.

Electric contacts (not shown) are actuated by the carriage at its stroke ends, these contacts providing for the immobilization of the carriage'during a determined rotation of the storage basket, so that the first loop of a new pipe winding which is being formed in the storage basket is laid above the last loop of the lower winding. These contacts then actuate the reversion of the direction of displacement of the carriage.

III. Special operating conditions of the device.

The sequences of the automatic operation of the device according to the invention have just been described.

Sequences of manual operation have been provided enabling the operator to intervene should a defect occur, such as for example the deformation of the portion 4b of the flexible pipe.

This manual operation is also necessary when a new length of flexible pipe has to be stored in addition to that already coiled in the storage basket.

For this purpose a separate control of the drawing device and of the storage basket has been provided.

a. Operation of the drawing device alone The switches I and II being in their F position, the switches C, and C are shifted to their T position. In this position the generator G is connected, through line 35, switch C and line 36, exclusively to the comparator 32 which receives, on its second input terminal, the signals generated by the detector 19.

The operator actuates the generator G and the circuit 32 delivers a signal which actuates the electro-valve l7 controlling the operation of the motor 37 of the drawing device.

It should be noted that, since the circuit 30 receives no signal, either from the detector 14 or of the generator G, the electro-valve 24 prevents the actuation of the motor 23 of the storage basket which thus remains stationary.

b. Operation of the basket alone The switches I and II being placed in their F position, the switches C and C are placed in their position P. In this position the circuit 32 is no longer energized at one of its input terminals and the electro-valve 18, being not controlled, prevents any actuation of the drawing device which remains stationary. The generator G is then connected through line 35, switch C line 33 and switch I to one input terminal of the circuit 30 which, at the same time, receives, through line 29, the signal generated by the circuit 28.

The operator actuates the generator G and the circuit 30 generates a signal which actuates the electro-valve 24 which controls the operation of the motor driving the storage basket 6.

What we claim is:

l. A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated element in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the storage basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end, so as to permit the introduction of the elongated element thereinto, the elongated element being driven by displacement means having an outlet, wherein the portion of the elongated element between said displacement means and the storage basket forms at least a free loop portion which is not subjected to any tensile stress, said device comprismg:

drawing means having an outlet for pulling the elongated element forming said free loop portion,

guiding means for guiding the elongated element during its introduction into the storage basket, and

control means, controlling on the one hand the rotational speed of the storage basket as a function of the length of elongated element displaced at the outlet of said displacement means and controlling on the other hand the length of the elongated element displaced at the outlet of said drawing means as a function of rotational speed of the storage basket.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a guiding track for the elongated member, said guiding track being integral with a carriage displaceable along a guiding rail parallel to a direction radial to the storage basket, the displacement of said carriage along said guiding rail being controlled as a function of the rotation of said storage basket.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means comprises first detecting means which generates a signal representative of the length of the elongated member displaced through said displacement means, second detecting means which generates a signal representative of the rotational speed of the storage basket, third detecting means which generates a signal representative of the position of said carriage on said guiding rail, fourth detecting means which generates a signal representative of the length of the elongated member passing through said drawing means, automatic means connected to said detecting means to receive and process the signals generated by said detecting means and to generate a first resulting signal adapted to control the speed of motor means driving the storage basket by controlling the rotation thereof as a function of carriage position and the length of the elongated member displaced through said displacement means, thereby ensuring that said loop portion constituted by the elongated member has a substantially constant length, said automatic means generating a second resulting signal adapted to control the operation of said drawing means as a function of the rotational speed of the storage basket, and the position of said carriage on said guiding rail, thereby ensuring that the length of the elongated member between said drawing means and the storage basket remains substantially constant.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the storage basket and said drawing means are actuated by hydraulic motor means controlled through electro-valve means actuated by said resulting signals delivered by said automatic means.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said automatic means comprises correcting circuit means receiving on a first input terminal the signal representative of the rotational speed of the storage basket generated by said second detecting means, and on a second input terminal the signal representative of the position of said carriage delivered by said third detecting means, said correcting circuit means delivering on its output terminal a corrected signal representative of the length of the loop of the elongated member which is stored into the storage basket, comparing circuit means having first input terminal means connected to said correcting circuit to receive said corrected signal and second input terminal means connected to a first switch having first and second positions, in one of which it connects exclusively the second input terminal of said comparing circuit to said first detecting means from which it receives the signal representative of the length of elongated member displaced at the outlet of said displacement means, said comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a control signal for said motor means driving the storage basket, said control signal being transmitted to an element controlling the operational speed of said motor means.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein there is provided a generator of signals identical to those delivered by said first detecting element, said second input terminal of said first comparing circuit being connected to said generator through said first switch when the latter is in said second position, said generator being actuated when said free loop portion, formed by the elongated element between said displacement means and the storage basket, has reached a predetermined minimum length, the operation of said generator being interrupted when said free loop portion reaches a predetermined maximum length.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein there is provided an additional comparing circuit having two input terminals, the first of said input terminals being connected to said fourth detecting element which delivers a signal representative of the length of the elongated member pulled through said drawing means, the second of said input terminals being connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit, said second comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a signal which is a function of the signals applied to its input terminals, this signal controlling the operation of said drawing means through a control element to which is transmitted said output signal.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit is connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit through a second switch with first and second positions which is controlled in synchronism with said first switch, when the latter is placed in its first position, and comprising third and fourth switches having first, second and third positions, said third and fourth switches controlled in synchronism, said third switch connecting saidgenerator to said first switch, exclusively in said first and said second positions of said third switch, and interrupting the connection when placed in said third position, said fourth switch connecting said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit to said generator in said third position of said fourth switch and to said output terminal of said correcting circuit in said second position of said fourth switch, said third and fourth switches thus permitting a fully independent control of the storage basket and of said drawing means, when said third and fourth switches are respectively located in their first and third position and when said generator is simultaneously actuated.

9. A device according to claim 5, wherein there is provided an additional comparing circuit having two input terminals, the first of said input terminals being connected to said fourth detecting element which delivers a signal representative of the length of the elongated member displaced through said drawing means, the second of said input terminals being connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit, said second comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a signal which is a function of the signals applied to its input terminals, this signal controlling the operation of said drawing means through a control element to which is transmitted said output signal.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit is connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit through a second switch with first and second positions which is controlled in synchronism with said first switch, when the latter is placed in its first position, and comprising third and fourth switches having first, second and third positions, said third and fourth switches controlled in synchronism, said third switch connecting said generator to said first switch, exclusively in said first and second positions of said third switch, and interrupting the connection when placed in said third position, said fourth switch connecting said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit to said generator in said third position of said fourth and to said output terminal of said correcting circuit in said second position of said fourth switch, said third and fourth switches thus permitting a fully independent control of the storage basket and of said drawing means, when said third and fourth switches are respectively located in their first and third position and when said generator is simultaneously actuated.

11. A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated member in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end so as to permit the introduction of the elongated member thereinto, the elongated member being driven by displacement means, said device comprising:

drawing means for supplying said elongated member to said storage basket, guiding means for guiding said elongated member during its introduction into said storage basket,

control means for controlling the relative operation of said guiding means, said storage basket and said displacement means in such a manner as to position said elongated member in said storage basket so as to prevent successive windings of said elongated member from overlapping or sliding on one another.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a guiding rail for the elongated member, said guiding rail arranged parallel to a line radial to said storage basket, carriage means movable along said guiding rail for carrying said elongated member, the displacement of said carriage means along said guiding rail being controlled as a function of the rotation of said storage basket. 

1. A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated element in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the storage basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end, so as to permit the introduction of the elongated element thereinto, the elongated element being driven by displacement means having an outlet, wherein the portion of the elongated element between said displacement means and the storage basket forms at least a free loop portion which is not subjected to any tensile stress, said device comprising: drawing means having an outlet for pulling the elongated element forming said free loop portion, guiding means for guiding the elongated element during its introduction into the storage basket, and control means, controlling on the one hand the rotational speed of the storage basket as a function of the length of elongated element displaced at the outlet of said displacement means and controlling on the other hand the length of the elongated element displaced at the outlet of said drawing means as a function of rotational speed of the storage basket.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a guiding track for the elongated member, said guiding track being integral with a carriage displaceable along a guiding rail parallel to a direction radial to the storage basket, the displacement of said carriage along said guiding rail being controlled as a function of the rotation of said storage basket.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means comprises first detecting means which generates a signal representative of the length of the elongated member displaced through said displacement means, second detecting means which generates a signal representative of the rotational speed of the storage basket, third detecting means which generates a signal representative of the position of said carriage on said guiding rail, fourth detecting means which generates a signal representative of the length of the elongated member passing through said drawing means, automatic means connected to said detecting means to receive and process the signals generated by said detecting means and to generate a first resulting signal adapted to control the speed of motor means driving the storage basket by controlling the rotation thereof as a function of carriage position and the length of the elongated member displaced through said displacement means, thereby ensuring that said loop portion constituted by the elongated member has a substantially constant length, said automatic means generating a second resulting signal adapted to control the operation of said drawing means as a function of the rotational speed of the storage basket, and the position of said carriage on said guiding rail, thereby ensuring that the length of the elongated member between said drawing means and the storage basket remains substantially constant.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the storage basket and said drawing means are actuated by hydraulic motor means controlled through electro-valve means actuated by said resulting signals delivered by said automatic means.
 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said automatic means comprises correcting circuit means receiving on a first input terminal the signal representative of the rotational speed of the storage basket generated by said second detecting means, and on a second input terminal the signal representative of the position of said carriage delivered by said third detecting means, said correcting circuit means delivering on its output terminal a corrected signal representative of the length of the loop of the elongated member which is stored into the storage basket, comparing circuit means having first input terminal means connected to said correcting circuit to receive said corrected signal and second input terminal means connected to a first switch having first and second positions, in one of which it connects exclusively the second input terminal of said comparing circuit to said first detecting means from which it receives the signal representative of the length of elongated member displaced at the outlet of said displacement means, said comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a control signal for said motor means driving the storage basket, said control signal being transmitted to an element controlling the operational speed of said motor means.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein there is provided a generator of signals identical to those delivered by said first detecting element, said second input terminal of said first comparing circuit being connected to said generator through said first switch when the latter is in said second position, said generator being actuated when said free loop portion, formed by the elongated element between said displacement means and the storage basket, has reached a predetermined minimum length, the operation of said generator being interrupted when said free loop portion reaches a predetermined maximum length.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein there is provided an additional comparing circuit having two input terminals, the first of said input terminals being connected to said fourth detecting element which delivers a signal representative of the length of the elongated member pulled through said drawing means, the second of said input terminals being connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit, said second comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a signal which is a function of the signals applied to its input terminals, this signal controlling the operation of said drawing means through a control element to which is transmitted said output signal.
 8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit is connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit through a second switch with first and second positions which is controlled in synchronism with said first switch, when the latter is placed in its first position, and comprising third and fourtH switches having first, second and third positions, said third and fourth switches controlled in synchronism, said third switch connecting said generator to said first switch, exclusively in said first and said second positions of said third switch, and interrupting the connection when placed in said third position, said fourth switch connecting said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit to said generator in said third position of said fourth switch and to said output terminal of said correcting circuit in said second position of said fourth switch, said third and fourth switches thus permitting a fully independent control of the storage basket and of said drawing means, when said third and fourth switches are respectively located in their first and third position and when said generator is simultaneously actuated.
 9. A device according to claim 5, wherein there is provided an additional comparing circuit having two input terminals, the first of said input terminals being connected to said fourth detecting element which delivers a signal representative of the length of the elongated member displaced through said drawing means, the second of said input terminals being connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit, said second comparing circuit delivering on its output terminal a signal which is a function of the signals applied to its input terminals, this signal controlling the operation of said drawing means through a control element to which is transmitted said output signal.
 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit is connected to the output terminal of said correcting circuit through a second switch with first and second positions which is controlled in synchronism with said first switch, when the latter is placed in its first position, and comprising third and fourth switches having first, second and third positions, said third and fourth switches controlled in synchronism, said third switch connecting said generator to said first switch, exclusively in said first and second positions of said third switch, and interrupting the connection when placed in said third position, said fourth switch connecting said second input terminal of said additional comparing circuit to said generator in said third position of said fourth and to said output terminal of said correcting circuit in said second position of said fourth switch, said third and fourth switches thus permitting a fully independent control of the storage basket and of said drawing means, when said third and fourth switches are respectively located in their first and third position and when said generator is simultaneously actuated.
 11. A storing device of the type which automatically positions the windings formed by a flexible elongated member in an annular storage basket driven in rotation about a vertical axis by motor means, the basket having an annular space provided with a bottom and being open at its upper end so as to permit the introduction of the elongated member thereinto, the elongated member being driven by displacement means, said device comprising: drawing means for supplying said elongated member to said storage basket, guiding means for guiding said elongated member during its introduction into said storage basket, control means for controlling the relative operation of said guiding means, said storage basket and said displacement means in such a manner as to position said elongated member in said storage basket so as to prevent successive windings of said elongated member from overlapping or sliding on one another.
 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises a guiding rail for the elongated member, said guiding rail arranged parallel to a line radial to said storage basket, carriage means movable along said guiding rail for carrying said elongated member, the displacement of said carriage means along said guiding rail being controlled as a function of The rotation of said storage basket. 